Chapter 302

Lark gazed at me for a while before finally speaking.

"Ash."

I was inwardly tense, given that the situation was such that it wouldn't have been odd if Lark had suddenly thrown a punch or spat out a curse.

But instead, this first Prince suddenly spread his arms wide and exclaimed,

"It's time for a hug!"

He bellowed while wearing a broad smile.

"..."

Right, this guy... had such a character!

Surprised, I froze. Lark approached me with big strides and tightly embraced me with his thick arms. 

"Urgh!" 

He laughed heartily.

"It's been a while! My younger brother! Have you been well?"

"Urgh..."

I was doing fine until moments ago, but now, thanks to your spine-crushing hug, not so much! Let me go! It feels like I'm dying!

After a short while, Lark released me from his embrace. I took heavy breaths and checked if my ribs were intact. That jerk! He squeezed me on purpose!

"You seem to be governing this place quite well, Ash."

While I was checking on the health of my spinal erector, Lark casually gestured towards the mansion's surroundings.

"I observed the expressions of the citizens on my way here. Everyone seemed happy. I never thought you'd have such talent for governance."

"My expression isn't too bright because of your hug..."

"In the Imperial Capital, you only caused problems... but now seeing you again, makes me proud."

"You only brought that up because you wanted to play on words, didn't you?"

In the Imperial Capital, I remember speaking formally to this gentleman, but now our conversation flowed more naturally.

Let's chalk it up to an increased sense of brotherly intimacy.

I guided Lark to a table and took my seat first. Lark sat down across from me.

When Aider served the tea, Lark declined with a wave of his hand and asked,

"Don't you have milk?"

"...Milk?"

What's with this health-conscious guy... is that why he's so tall?

Aider quickly served a cold glass of milk, which Lark gulped down with satisfaction. I cautiously brought up a topic.

"Did you come alone, brother? I assumed you'd bring your subordinates with you."

"All I desire is peace, Ash."

Thud! Setting down his empty glass of milk and wiping his lips with the back of his hand, Lark spoke.

"Peace for this country and the children who will live here... It's my duty to protect it."

Children.

I remembered, this guy was married. He even had three kids.

A flashback of Lark, harmoniously interacting with his wife at the Imperial Capital's party, crossed my mind.

"Ash, you're obviously included in the list of people I need to protect."

"..."

"If I punished you for every mistake you made, would you still be alive?"

I gave a bitter smile.

"So... you thought it would be enough to 'discipline' me alone, and that's why you came by yourself?"

"You're an adult too. It's not discipline. I came to persuade you."

It's basically the same thing, just different wording.

This powerful knight believed that he alone would be sufficient to 'persuade' me, hence he came alone.

My eyes drifted to the longsword at his waist. If Lark wanted to, he could probably turn this entire mansion upside down with me inside.

"I'll cut to the chase and speak my mind. Hand over Duchess Bringar and her Knights to me."

Lark stated bluntly, fixing his eyes on me.

"Do that, and I will overlook your acts of treachery. Neither 'Father' nor anyone else in the Imperial Family will know of the deeds you've done."

"Treachery, you say..."

"Ash. Right now, our Everblack Empire is fighting enemies on four fronts."

I remember.

The 'Guardians' meeting' held in the Imperial Capital. I recall the content vividly.

"The divine front led by 'Father' to fend off the foreign gods in the northern territories. Fernandez's covert front, holding off the underground forces in the center of the Imperial Capital."

"..."

"And my dragon-blooded front, at war with the Bringar Duchy in the west. Lastly, your monster front here, repelling the beasts."

Four destinies threatening the downfall of the empire.

The Emperor and his sons were each fighting on their designated fronts.

"Duchess Bringar is one of the four fates identified to bring down the empire. We must kill her."

"..."

"In order to do that, I personally set fire to the Bringar Duchy, our long-time allies and brother nation. Countless people died. But if we don't capture the Duchess, this war won't end. All those sacrifices will be in vain."

He didn't need to voice the implied 'So, hand her over.'

He had laid out his cards; now, he simply stared at me, waiting for my response. Such a straightforward personality.

A low chuckle escaped my lips, and I smirked.

"And if I can't?"

"Excuse me?"

"If I can't hand over Duchess Bringar to you, what will you do?"

"You're planning to obstruct the imperial orders?"

"Forgot my autonomous declaration? I was granted self-governance for three years. Whether to shelter or protect those who seek refuge here is up to me."

As I casually leaned back on the sofa, Lark's demeanor turned menacing.

The room's temperature seemed to plummet, and the furniture shook as if there was an earthquake.

Just a slight release of his aura caused this much havoc.

His massive hand slowly moved to the hilt of his sword.

"Then I have no choice but to 'persuade' you. I didn't want to resort to force, but..."

Shing-

Lark slightly unsheathed his blade.

The blade's dull metallic shimmer was suddenly infused with a vivid blue magic power, scattering a hazy chill and remnants of magical power like frost.

I was choking.

With my level of combat skills, resisting him would result in being torn to shreds.

But...

"I'll give you one last chance, Ash. Hand over Duchess Bringar to me immediately, or with this sword, I'll-"

"You can't."

Cutting off Lark, I replied coldly.

"You can't swing your sword at me, can you, brother?"

"...What?"

"You aren't cold-hearted enough to strike down your own kin, are you?"

Confusion clouded Lark's eyes, and I wore a leisurely smile.

The reason I could remain so calm, even with the world's strongest knight before me?

Because in the game, I had thoroughly analyzed what kind of character this human named Lark was.

'In the game, just because they were brothers, Lark couldn't kill Fernandez, who had committed treason.'

He was a person with too much sentimentality.

If he couldn't kill Fernandez who had plotted a rebellion, there was no way he would raise his sword to me just for hiding an enemy leader.

"...Seriously."

True to my expectations, Lark grimaced, sheathing his sword back into its scabbard, and released his grip on the handle.

The suffocating pressure and the trembling atmosphere quickly returned to normal.

"Always the cunning one, aren't you? You claim to have lost your memory, but you sure remember how to handle your brother."

"Old habits die hard, don't they?"

Matching his rhythm, my smile deepened.

However, in the same vein...

"Although I might not be able to confront you directly, my troops are stationed just three days' distance from here in Crossroad."

"Oh?"

"If I give the order, they'll storm Crossroad, burn down the southern front, capture you and Duchess Bringar, and drag you both to the Imperial Capital-"

"You can't."

I was sure of it.

"Brother, you can't do that."

"What..."

"This southern front also stands against one of the dooms that threaten our empire. If you burn it, then what? Who will stop the monsters emerging from the south?"

Given the number and maliciousness of monsters emerging from the black lake, reports would surely have reached him by now. 

These monsters grew stronger and more terrifying by the day. To plunge the southern front into civil war under such circumstances?

When and where would he establish a new frontline and mobilize troops to defend it? Both logistically and tactically, it made no sense.

"Moreover, if the western and southern fronts clash, resulting in mutual annihilation, who stands to benefit? Certainly not our empire."

"But still-"

"Most importantly, you can't. Not with matters of such significance, unless 'someone gives you an order.'"

Lark blinked blankly. I now had to stifle my laughter.

The foundation of my belief that I could persuade Lark?

It was none other than my experience from 742 gameplay walkthroughs.

In the second year, when I had to choose between allying with either Lark or Fernandez, I often sided with Lark.

Because he was easier to handle.

'Lark "Avalanche" Everblack is the empire's most formidable knight.'

His capabilities had long surpassed human limits, and his martial prowess was said to have reached the realm of legends.

However.

Nevertheless.

Because his incredible power could, with a single mistake, destroy his own homeland and even his cherished subordinates...

From a young age, he had restrained his strength, always seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts.

This temperament persisted into his adulthood.

To put it kindly, he was compassionate.

To put it bluntly, he was indecisive.

'He's a knight who prefers his sword to stay sheathed.'

To draw a parallel... It's like wielding a nuclear weapon to intimidate, but lacking the courage to actually launch it.

His recent war with the Bringar Duchy showcased this nature perfectly.

'Had he wanted to, he could have decimated the Bringar Duchy and killed Duchess Bringar to seize her Dragon Blood.'

But he couldn't resort to unnecessary brutality.

Nor could he extend mercy to the people of the duchy.

Duchess Bringar had never surrendered, and the war dragged on ambiguously. The casualties on both sides piled up like accumulating snow.

Even after holding a victory celebration in the Imperial Capital, he still hadn't finalized matters, allowing Duchess Bringar to escape.

And here he was, trying to 'persuade' me.

'When executing orders, he might be a competent field commander. But as a decisive leader acting on his own volition, he falls short.'

In some ways, a true soldier - that was Lark.

And this nature would later become his critical weakness in the war for the throne against Fernandez.

'Well, stories of the future can wait.'

To my brother, who was naturally inclined towards peace yet encased in a killer's instinct, I decided to provide a way out.

Swoosh!

I handed Lark the prepared documents. He accepted them with a puzzled look.

"What's this?"

"Just read."

With a skeptical look, Lark spread out the contents of the folder. Soon after, his eyes widened in shock.

Of course, this folder contained information Serenade had collected from the Imperial Capital.

In other words - it was a collection of evidence of Fernandez's treason.

Thud!

After quickly scanning the contents, Lark slammed the folder onto the table, snarling menacingly at me.

"This is a lie."

"Do you really believe that?"

"It's... a lie. Why would Fernandez... commit treason? He has no reason!"

"Typical of you, starting by searching for a reason for the treason."

The subversive forces within the Imperial Capital were actually the Aegis Special Forces.

They had secretly installed a human sacrifice magic circle called the 'Shutdown Protocol' in the underground of the Imperial Capital.

Under the guise of eliminating subversive forces, Fernandez's political enemies were being eliminated one by one.

Most of those so-called enemies were nobles who supported Lark.

With so much evidence laid bare, Lark's blind faith in Fernandez was all too typical of him.

This indecisive embodiment of a man! Was it because he drank too much milk?

"Let's say, for argument's sake, that it's all lies, brother. Even so, shouldn't you go to the Imperial Capital first to verify this information?"

"..."

"If it's false, then come back and mete out a suitable punishment to me for defaming your innocent younger brother. But if it's true?"

"..."

"You can prevent a crisis in the Imperial Capital in due time. Wouldn't that be far more urgent than dealing with Duchess Bringar?"

Looking down at the folder with trembling eyes, Lark seemed on the edge. I sighed, pushing him further.

"Think about it. If, hypothetically, Fernandez does rebel, who in the Imperial Capital would face the greatest danger?"

"...! Father!"

"Oh, come on, brother. That's not it. Can't you really see the bigger picture?"

I slowly pointed my forefinger toward Lark's chest.

"My beloved sister-in-law and three lovely nieces and nephews..."

Your wife and children.

"They're in danger."

Would be the first ones targeted.

I snapped this clueless soldier back to reality.

"...!"

Lark's face drained of color. I clicked my tongue.

"The primary reason to kill Duchess Bringar is because of the Dragon Blood, right?"

An almost limitless source of magic power.

The heart of magic left behind by the last dragon. That's what Dragon Blood is.

The prophecy of annihilation is just a secondary reason. The Imperial Family attacked the Bringar Duchy and tried to kill Duchess Bringar to steal it.

Lark silently nodded in agreement, and I added,

"Let's assume you kill Duchess Bringar and present the Dragon Blood to the Imperial Family. What if Fernandez truly rebels and, in the process, gets his hands on this Dragon Blood?"

"...!"

"Fernandez is a very competent magician. If he acquires the Dragon Blood, the situation becomes irreparable."

Lark was already half-convinced by my words. I smoothly concluded,

"So, I'll detain Duchess Bringar here on the southern front. Better to have this fearsome Dragon Lady under surveillance in the southern front fighting against monsters than to let her escape and scheme somewhere unknown. It's far more... assured and safe from a management perspective, right?"

"..."

"While I keep Duchess Bringar safely detained here, you return to the Imperial Capital and verify the truth of the documents I gave you. How does that sound? As I said earlier, if it turns out to be false, come back, and happily capture both me and the Duchess. It's that simple."

Of course, that wouldn't happen.

Because Fernandez's rebellion is real.

'Fernandez has expedited his rebellion.'

In that case, to align with the game and tempo I've experienced before,

Lark, who stands against Fernandez, must also expedite his countermeasures against that rebellion.

'It's an inevitable family feud after all.'

Now.

Let's accelerate it.

The bloody civil war among members of the Imperial Family.

To exploit everything available for my benefit.